I've had a number of films both from here and the U.S. that weren't taped down. The ideal tape is masking tape. I bought some from Wilko, especially to tape the ends down, but at 20p a roll, maybe it's too cheap, as I often get films out and find the tape unstuck. I have had a few that were fixed with Sellotape, and this leaves a sticky residue. A bit of WD40 would remove that.

We have recieved many films over the years and the worst is definatly sellotape, If i sell a film or need to tape it down at all, ((very very rare), i only use masking tape which i get from work as being a motor trade dealership with a bodyshop the tape they use is very good quality and is easy to remove with no residue even if its been on for a year or more. I have bought the cheap crap from Wilkos and B & Q and it is rubbish, if it sticks at all.

i have been using a miniture model makers masking tape with excellent results for many years.cant remember the make will check tomorrow. its only about 8mm or 9mm in width,never curls up or leaves a residue on the film

I agree with what most people have said here in that if any kind of household tape should be used to tie down a leader in transit, then thin cut making tape laid length ways just along the film itself and not the reel edges, is about the best method.

For films purchased from dealers, I firmly believe that in built into their cost, should be the price of a new card box and a proper film clip if the original boxes are anything less than in good or at least satisfactory condition.

This goes back to what Mark was saying earlier regarding the fact that often our films can be relatively expensive items attempting to please a specific niche market.Presentation of the goods should always remain professional in my opinion despite nearly all distributed items now deriving from the second hand marketplace.

A little like many of the better used vinyl record dealers back in the day would always place the second hand vinyl record into a brand new pristine card sleeve which always made the item more desirable than a tatty old ripped original paper sleeve.

The clips for 8mm and 16mm can still be purchased fairly reasonably from places like E.V.E. etc and new boxes can easily be made or purchased still from dealers of such items.Buying either or both in bulk would bring the price of the items right down and it would bring about a lasting first impression of the goods as they arrive with the customers.

Ian still uses new boxes when the old ones are tatty, occasionally I have known Phil to do the same, but I have never received film from a dealer this time around that uses film clips to secure the leaders in transit.I feel this would be a nice finishing touch, especially for the longer and more expensive items being sold.

I can instantly think of quite a few films I have where using nothing to tie the leader down would result in a disaster and film all over the floor based on how some of these things were originally spooled, so those even close to the rim certainly need clips.

It is very common for the feature films on 8 to regularly have at least one or two reels of the film close to edge of the spools Mats.I have just got in the habit of fitting them to all of the parts these days to stop them unwinding in their boxes.It's not so necessary for all parts to have clips if the feature box also contains individual boxes for each spool but if the spools are loose inside a feature box, things soon get untidy I've found.

What did they used to use? On 8mm in was about4mm wide looked like masking tape, but the adhesive was stronger. Screwfix sell some good masking tape in green or yellow not sure which one but can be lefet on for weeks.

I am not sure of the specific type of tape nor its actual trade name that the distributors used to use and attach to commercial 8mm home movies in their masses back in the day , but i do remember exactly the type you are referring to David. It was fairly thin, very adhesive and had a glossy exterior finish to it and usually came in yellow, red or other primary colours as i recall.

The first thing I do when receiving a newly bought film is to remove any securing tape and then clean off the residue, not forgetting its counterpart on the succeeding turn of the film.I never use tape. If a film is kept on its spool in a box, or can, the film will remain in position without taping it.

You are right of course Maurice except for the ones already spoken about, which are full to the rim.

I've used two film clips before now on just one reel of film, spread 180 degrees apart just because the reel was so full and just removing it from its box even, would risk spilling it all over the floor.